Fence-machine



(No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. F. WOODMAN & L. H. EVANS.

FENCE MACHINE.

. P ented Dec. 27

(No Model.) r 2 SheetsSheet 2. B. F. WOODMAN & L. H} EVANS.

FENCE MACHINE.

IN0.375,434. Patented Dec'.'2'7, 1'887. 9 y :2

s I Q v- Ban W Zmwvmm" 9m .EEDMS N PETERS. PMlnLilhcgqphar. Washington.D. C,

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN WOODMAN AND LYMAN H. EVANS, OF PARSONS, KANSAS.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,434. dated December27, 1887.

Application filed October 7. 1887. Serial No. 251,748.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. WOOD- MAN and 'LYMAN H. Evans, citizensof the United States, residing at Parsons, in the county of Labette andState of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFence-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in fence-machines; and itconsists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices thatwill be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourimproved fence-machine, illustrating the manner of using the same tobuild a fence. Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional View of our improvedfence-machine. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line no a; of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the twisters. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of one of the tension-plates. Fig. 6 is an edgeview of thetension-bar, showing the jecting circular flanges D,which are journaled-at diametrically-oppositepoihtsin thetwisters.

H represents short curved open slots which extend in, oppositedirections from the slots G at a suitable distance from the inner endsthereof, and I represents similar short curved open slots, which alsoextend from opposite the rear side of the case.

(No model.)

sides of the slots G at suitable distances beyond the slots H. In oneside of the case A area number of openings, K, which are adapted toregister with the slots G at each semi-rotation of the twisters.

L represents a series of gear-wheels, which are also j ournaled in thefront and rear sides of the case A, one of the said gear-wheels beingarranged between each pair of the twisters and meshing with thespur-teeth thereof. To the front side of the case A is secured abearing-box, M, in which is journaled a shaft, N. This shaft is providedat its inner end with a miter gear-pinion, O, which meshes with mitergear-teeth P on the front side of the central twister. To the upper endof the said shaft is attached a crank,R,by means of which the said shaftmay be rotated so as to cause the pinion O to impart rotary motion tothe cen tral twister and from the same to the remaining twisters in thebox or case.

S represents a series of horizontal arms which project from the rearside of the case A, and have their outer ends bifurcated, as shown inFig. 1.

T represents an arm which projects rearwardly from the case A and isbraced in position by means of rods U, the front ends of which arepivotally connected to eyebolts V on To the outer end of the arm T ispivoted a link, W, and to the outer end of the said link is pivoted ahandlever, X, the lower end of which is adapted to engage one of thepickets in the fence while the same is being constructed.

Y represents a tension-board, to the opposite sides of which are securedaseries of horizontally-arranged tension-plates, Z, one pair of the saidtension-plates being employed for each rotary twister in the case A. Thesaid tension-plates are provided on their outer sides with projectingfingers A, which are inclined in opposite directions alternately. Thesaid tension-plates are further provided at their ends with openings B,through which screws are passed. to screw the tension-plates firmly tothe tension-board.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Posts a are secured in theground at suitable distances apart, and at a suitable distance beyondone end of the proposed line of fence is anchored a frame, b, in whichis journaled a series of bobbins, 0, having wires d such as are to beemployed in making the fence. The tension-board Y is arranged in avertical position at the inner end of the frame I) and beyond the end ofthe proposed fence, and the wires are d awn over the bobbins and passedbetween the fingers of the tension-plates,which stretch along thefence-line and have their ends secured to the starting-posts by means ofstaples or in any other manner. The said wires are arranged in pairs, asshown. The operator then causes the twisters in the case A to turn untilthe slots G on one side of the twisters register with the openings K inthe case, and he then forces one of the wires of each pair into the saidslots G through the openings K, and causes the twisters to move throughhalf a rotation by turning crank R until their opposite slots, G,register with the openings K, when the remaining wires are inserted inthe said slots G, two of the wires being thus passed through the slotsin each twister. The machine is then moved to within a slight distanceof the starting-post, and the crank is turned so as to cause thetwister-s to rotate and twist the wires together in pairs. The machineis then moved forward a slight distance, and a picket, c, is passeddownward between the bights of the wires and caused to bear against therear bifurcated ends of the arms S. The crank is then turned in acontrary direction, so as to cause the twisters to rotate and twist thewires together in advance of the picket, and the machine is then movedforward a slight distance and another picket inserted and twistedbetween the wires, and so on until a few pickets have been secured inplace, after which the operator causes the lower end of the hand-lever Xto engage the front side of each picket in succession, and he moves themachine forward a suitable distance after inserting each picket in placeby means of the said lever X, as will be readily understood. 3y forcingthe upper end of the lever X rearward, as each picket is inserted in thebights of the wires, the machine is caused to move rearward on thefence-linc, and the arms S press the picket rearward in the bights ofthe wires, and thus arrange the pickets at the proper distance apart.

In order to facilitate the movement of the machine along the fence-line,we journal a roller, D, between a pair of cars, E, that depend from thelower end of the machine, and place a plank or board, f, on the groundto serve as a track for the roller. The fingers of the tensioaplateexert a sufficient tension on the wires to keep the same stretched tothe desired extent while the pickets are being so cured between thewires.

When the wires are at the inner ends of the slots G, they are arrangedat onlyaslight dis tance apart. If it is desired to arrange the wires ata greater distance apart, they are caused to enter the slots H, and ifit is desired to still further widen the spaces between the wires thismay be accomplished by arranging the wires in the slots I.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. The combination, in afence-machine, of the casing A, the rotary twistcrs journaled thereonand having the peripheral gear-teeth, the radial open slots G, and theslots H l, communicating therewith, one of said twisters being alsoprovided with beveled gcar-teeth I, the pinions L, arrangedintermediatcly of the twisters and working therewith, the box M, securedto the ease, and the shaft N,jonrnaled in said box, having the beveledpinion L atits inner end meshing with the teeth 1, and the crank at itsouter end, substantially as described.

2. The rotary twistershaving the radial open slots G, and the curvedslots H and I, extend iug from opposite sides of the said slots G andcommunicating therewith,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the case A, having the projecting arms S andthe twisting devices, of the arm T, secured to said case, the link XV,pivoted to the outer end of said arm, and the hand-lever X. pivoted tothe said link, substantially as described.

at. The combination of the tension-bar and the plates Z, secured theretoon opposite sides thereof, the said plates having the fingers Aprojecting therefrom in opposite directionsalternately, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. \VOODMAN. LYMAX H. EVANS. \Vitnesses:

T. J. MILLER, G. B. lnrnnsox.

